The Exeter-based company won the prestigious Manufacturing Innovation Award at the Insider Made in the South West Awards, held in Bristol.

Neil Tague, Editor at South West Business Insider which organises the Awards said: “The South West has some really smart businesses providing next-generation solutions in their chosen fields, and Ashwoods is one of the best.

“It has identified a market requirement for a more efficient and environmentally-friendly way to run commercial fleets and is meeting that demand superbly.”

Ashwoods Automotive is the UK’s largest supplier of hybrid commercial vehicles. The company is the sole hybrid vehicle supplier to the Department for Transport’s Low Carbon Vehicle Procurement Programme (LCVPP), which provides subsidies to public sector bodies purchasing hybrid vans and minibuses.

Ashwoods is also fast-growing player in the fields of driver behaviour technology and the design of low carbon vehicle components. The company recently started manufacturing its innovative Ashwoods electric motor in the South West – significantly improving its bottom line.

Ashwoods is rapidly gaining recognition as one of the leading players in HEV and EV core drive train components including electric motors, gearboxes, batteries, battery management systems and eco-driving technologies. This includes the award winning Lightfoot in-cab driver efficiency system.

Martin Kadhim, Business Development Manager at Ashwoods Automotive, said: “Ashwoods entered the awards because we wanted to be recognised for our local efforts. We try to keep our supplier base as south-west based as possible, for example 75 per cent of the hybrid components are sourced from within 25 miles of the Exeter office – and despite the opportunity to manufacture overseas, Ashwoods Hybrid Drive system is manufactured in Weston-Super-Mare.”

He added: “Winning the award means so much to the team here at Ashwoods as it gives the team further recognition for their focus on developing great technologies that help reduce carbon and play a pivotal role in the fast developing low emission manufacturing industry in the UK.”

A total of six other category winners were announced at the ceremony at Marriott Hotel on November 8th.

These include:

Aerospace/Defence – Aero Stanrew (Barnstaple),

Exporter of the Year – Avon Metals (Gloucester)

Sustainable Manufacturer – Green Fuels (Stonehouse, Gloucestershire)

Food and Drink – Thatchers Cider (Sandford, Somerset)

Advanced Manufacturer – GKN Aerospace (Filton)

Manufacturer of the Year – Burts Chips (Roborough)

The Made in the South West Awards were sponsored by Barclays, Foot Anstey, Grant Thornton, GoIndustry, G4S, TasteTech and University of Bristol.

Read the full story Hybrid vehicle manufacturer clinches Manufacturing Innovation award at our blog

Over the past four years Exeter based Ashwoods Automotive has become the UK’s leading supplier of Hybrid commercial vehicles, thanks to its hybrid drive technology.

The company’s latest product, Lightfoot, which has been shown to provide up to 22% fuel savings and enables fleet managers to review the efficiency of its drivers, could soon make Britain’s fleet vehicles among the greenest around.

Although Ashwoods Automotive was originally founded in Somerset in 2003, starting as a one-man band selling LPG converted vehicles, it was when the company moved to Devon in 2008, that it really took off.

The firm was looking to expand when it decided to base itself in Devon to move to bigger premises. Its expansion has seen its turnover rise from around £600,000 a year to almost £6 million, and it now employs 30 people.

Mark Roberts, Managing Director of Ashwoods, said: “The reason we moved to Devon was that we needed more space and this was a good central catchment area for the people we needed. We were recruiting heavily at the time and there’s a high calibre of people in this area. We didn’t find it difficult to attract good people by being based in Exeter.

“We are mainly here because we can find the talented people we need. There may have been a concern initially over whether we could find entrepreneurial people in Devon, but it’s actually full of driven, ambitious people.

“The added extra is that it’s a nice place to live, the natural aspects of Devon, the countryside and the way of life, are a huge pull.”

Taking its hybrid technology into production to fit to commercial vehicles was aided in 2009 by a Government contract from the Technology Strategy Board, supplying its hybrid kit to the Environment Agency and Transport for London among others. It was one of four suppliers that had its product assessed over two years – but it was Ashwoods’ product that came out on top in terms of performance and price, so it was then selected as the sole supplier.

Since January 2010 Ashwoods has supplied over 200 Ashwoods Hybrid Transits to the UK’s largest public sector fleets such as Royal Mail and BT. In November 2011 Ashwoods won a contract to deliver a further 500 Ashwoods Hybrid Transits.

“2010 was our real take off year, focusing on our hybrid kit for the Ford Transit,” admits Mark. “The funding from the Technology Strategy Board, has enabled Ashwoods to recruit more people and develop more products. We wouldn’t have been able to develop those other elements without the funding.

“With the first generation of our product, we bought components from Germany and China, but we found that they weren’t as good as we wanted so we decided to develop all of our own components. Our aim was to make a better hybrid system but in the process we helped develop two or three businesses. Our supply chain is based in Tiverton, Torquay and Plymouth and we wanted to be fairly central to that and not move away from them.

“Vehicle manufacturers are developing hybrids from the ground up but we have developed a unit that can be retro fitted to a normal vehicle. We don’t have to make the engine smaller, we just add our bit, and unlike all electric vehicles, which have a limited range and need to be charged, our motor never needs to be charged. It charges itself from the wasted energy from decelerating and braking, and then assists acceleration, which takes the load off the engine.”

The company’s latest product is the Lightfoot, which Mark not only sees as a natural addition to its hybrid kit, but as a standout product in its own right that offers businesses an immediate return on investment.

Mark explains: “There are two ways to make vehicles more energy efficient – change the vehicle to a hybrid and to change driver behaviour. A badly driven hybrid van is not as clean as it can be. Lightfoot is about driver training. The traditional approach to driver training is for a fleet to send its drivers off for training, but performance drops off over time and drivers can return to their bad habits.

“This is in the cab and works with the driver – it really does work and it’s a lovely common sense product and the return on investment is immediate.

“We have always had the ability to have a commercial view on development, driven by market acceptance so that we can supply a product that people want to buy.”

The results speak for themselves. In 2011, Ashwoods won three awards from the Institute of Engineering and Technology, as well as winning a Devon Environmental Business Award for its goods and services.

The company is currently selling its products to the end customer – owners of business fleets. Mark knows that the growth areas of the business could be the exploitation of the components that the company has developed, such as its batteries, electronics and electric motors. This could unlock the potential to supply them to vehicle manufacturers. But a shift in emphasis of the business does not necessarily mean uplifting its roots.

Mark added: “LPG helped us learn about the industry, but we have been able to apply more technology with the hybrid kit, which is the right product for now and the next few years. To take us to the next level we will need to sell a high volume of low price components.

“We spend a lot of time in the Midlands which really is the automotive centre of the country and so our potential customers are elsewhere, but we have proved we don’t need to be there. I believe we attract people because we are in Devon. It’s got everything.”

Read the full story Ashwoods Automotive driven by success at our blog

Read the full story Green buses for special needs school transport at our blog

South West Business Insider editor Neil Tague said: “This is the first year we’ve run the Made in the South West Awards and the response has been overwhelming. The UK economy needs to be rebalanced and manufacturing has to play a big part – it’s time the best of our manufacturers were championed for their world-class work.”

Simon Howes, area director of the Manufacturing Advisory Service, was among the independent judging panel. He said: “It’s been great to see so many excellent South West businesses enter these awards.

“Over the course of the year, MAS has helped some great companies flourish and this awards programme is something that can give richly deserved recognition to businesses that aren’t always recognised for the value they create and the good they do.”

The shortlists:

Manufacturing Innovation: Ashwoods, Swallowfield, Apetito, Magmatic

Aerospace/Defence: Aero Stanrew, Omega Engineering Services, Supacat

Exporter of the Year: Dycem, Swallowfield, TasteTech, Avon Metals, Quickgrind, Hilton Herbs, SFL

Sustainable Manufacturer: Green Fuels, Sharp’s, CFH

Food and Drink: Westaway Sausages, Burts Chips, Marshfield Bakery, Thatchers Cider, Wyke Farms, Butcombe Brewery

Advanced Manufacturer: Graphic, GKN Aerospace, Gooch & Housego

Manufacturer of the Year: Hilton Herbs, Vi Spring, Burts Chips, Ashwoods, Aero Stanrew

The judging panel comprised: Barry Warburton (chief executive, West of England Aerospace Forum); John Sheaves (chief executive, Taste of the West); Paul Knight (director of sales operations, EEF); Christine Marshall (chairman, South West Food & Drink); Alan Bailey (chairman, Low Carbon South West); Russell Jones (regional director, UK Trade and Investment); Simon Howes (area director, Manufacturing Advisory Service); and Neil Tague (editor, South West Business Insider).

Read the full story Ashwoods shortlisted for Made in the South West awards at our blog

WMFS has invested in an Ashwoods Hybrid Transit from Ashwoods Automotive Ltd. The vehicle is now one of several in the organisation’s fleet of hybrid vans and cars which include the Honda Civic and the Toyota Prius and Auris models.

Speaking about the Ashwoods van, Chris Beebee fleet manager at WMFS said: “The aim is to significantly reduce the fuel and greenhouse gas emissions, while maximising financial savings.

“It is very straightforward to use and drivers don’t have to think about plugging it in to charge up the batteries, or worry that vehicle may not have sufficient charge to complete the journey.”

West Midlands purchased the vehicle through the Department for Transport’s Low Carbon Vehicle Procurement Programme (LCVPP). This initiative aims to help public sector bodies in England and Wales to procure and assess 500 Ashwoods Hybrid LCVs. The DfT provides a subsidy of £3,430 per vehicle.

Mark Roberts, managing director of Ashwoods Automotive, said: “As public sector organisations, all emergency services can benefit from attractive Government subsidies for Ashwoods Hybrid Transits.”

Read the full story Ashwoods supplies hybrid van to West Midlands Fire Service at our blog

The Department for Transport (DfT) is offering grant funding towards a new Ashwoods Hybrid Transit light commercial vehicle (LCV) through its Low Carbon Vehicle Procurement Programme (LCVPP).

The programme was established to help public sector organisations such as central and local government bodies to become early adopters of low carbon vehicles. It has now been extended to cover housing associations, universities and further education establishments.

The Ashwoods Hybrid Transit, produced by Ashwoods Automotive Ltd and based on the popular RWD Ford Transit, is the only DfT-approved vehicle in the programme. It is available as a chassis cab, minibus or panel van. Under the LCVPP scheme, DfT provides a subsidy of more than £3,400 per vehicle.

DfT is only providing subsidies for the first 500 Ashwoods vehicles ordered – and all orders must be received by March 2013.

Ashwoods has launched a dedicated website, http://www.ashwoodshybrid.co.uk/, which focuses on the benefits of switching to hybrid and explains the process of applying for the LCVPP subsidy.

Martin Kadhim, Business Development Director at Ashwoods Automotive, said: “The cost difference can between a normal transit and a hybrid transit can now be recouped in as little as a year based on 7,000 miles per annum. The paperwork is very straightforward and the entire process takes just a matter of days.”

The Ashwoods Hybrid Transit is fitted with a hybrid system that captures wasted energy and uses it to help the engine burn less fuel. It reduces diesel consumption by up to 25%, helping organisations to lower their fleet fuel bills and reduce carbon emissions.

The van requires no charging, plugging in, or special treatment and can used for any job for which a regular van would be considered.

Ashwoods successfully proved its technology to the DfT over a three year period during which its vehicles covered 4 million miles. Ashwoods provided routine testing and fleet manager feedback from 14 public sector organisations, utilising 138 Hybrid vans.

Read the full story New website launched for hybrid LCV scheme at our blog

The Department for Transport is offering to pay the difference between a standard Ford Transit and the hybrid equivalent, through its Low Carbon Vehicle Procurement Programme (LCVPP). The programme was established to help public sector organisations such as central and local government bodies to become early adopters of low carbon vehicles. It has now been extended to cover housing associations.

The Ashwoods Hybrid Transit, produced by Ashwoods Automotive Ltd, is the only DfT-approved vehicle in the programme. It is available as a chassis cab, minibus or panel van. Under the LCVPP scheme, DfT provides a subsidy of more than £3,400 per vehicle.

Martin Kadhim, Business Development Director at Ashwoods Automotive, said: “This is a unique opportunity for the Social Housing sector to cut fuel consumption and lower carbon emissions from transport.
“Light commercial vehicles play an important role within any housing association; this is an opportunity to procure a proven environmental technology that delivers a real return on investment.”

The Ashwoods Hybrid Transit is fitted with an award-winning hybrid system that captures wasted energy and uses it to help the engine burn less fuel. It reduces diesel consumption by up to 25%, helping housing associations to lower their fleet fuel bills and reduce carbon emissions.

The van requires no charging, plugging in, or special treatment and can used for any job for which a regular van would be considered.

Ashwoods successfully proved its technology to the DfT over a three year period during which its vehicles covered 4 million miles. Ashwoods provided routine testing and fleet manager feedback from 14 public sector organisations, utilising 138 Hybrid vans.

DfT is only providing subsidies for the first 500 Ashwoods vehicles ordered – and all orders must be received by March 2013.

Further details on the LCVPP can be found at

http://www.dft.gov.uk/publications/low-carbon-vehicle-public-procurement-programme/

For further information on the Ashwoods Hybrid Transit, please contact Martin Kadhim on 01392 340 414, email martin.kadhim@ashwoods.org or visit www.ashwoodshybrid.co.uk

Read the full story Government Hybrid Van Subsidy now open to Housing Associations at our blog

Whittam said: “I am delighted to be joining Ashwoods, which has a great track record in developing low carbon vehicle products that are simple to use but incredibly effective”.

“When I left Ford, I resolved to only work on those van industry issues close to my heart – reducing cost, carbon and improving driver behaviour.  These are the big issues facing the van sector right now and Lightfoot meets all three objectives.

“Lightfoot actually engages with drivers, rather than simply criticising them with lots of telematics analysis. By working with drivers, we improve their vehicle control, delivering savings on fuel, CO2 and reducing component wear and tear.”

Whittam started his career as an apprentice truck mechanic and joined Ford Motor Company as a technician in 1978. He was promoted through a wide range of roles within the company over a career spanning 27 years, before retiring in 2006 as commercial vehicle director.

Gary joins Ashwoods Automotive after two years as European sales & marketing director for Azure Dynamics, producer of the Ford Transit Connect Electric.

Whittam is also Chairman of the Freight Transport Association’s Van Excellence Governance Group, which promotes operational excellence across the van industry – encompassing operators, manufacturers, dealers and lease providers.

Mark Roberts, managing director of Ashwoods Automotive, said: “Gary is one of the best known and best liked people in the commercial vehicle industry. His breadth of knowledge and passion for this industry are phenomenal; we are delighted to have him on board.

“Gary’s time with Azure Dynamics also gave him a unique experience in business development for a low carbon LCV technology on a Ford platform.”

Read the full story Former Ford CV director Joins Ashwoods Automotive at our blog

The Council is rolling out 35 Ashwood Hybrid Transit vehicles across the city, to be used by services including corporate building, parks, library services and refuse collection.

The authority estimates that, over their working life, the Ashwoods vehicles will save it approximately £75,000 in fuel costs and reduce its carbon emissions by around 220 tonnes.

Cllr June Burtonshaw, Cabinet Member for Place in Swansea Council, said: “The Council has a large number of vehicles operating in the city on a daily basis.

“It’s really important that we do what we can to not only reduce fuel costs but also to lessen their impact on our local environment.

“The introduction of this new fleet of vehicles will give us the opportunity to save money and improve our green credentials.”

Cllr Sybil Crouch, Cabinet Member for Sustainability, added: “Councils need to look at more innovative and cost effective ways of providing services.

“The introduction of this new fleet of vehicles is a really positive step forward to a more sustainable Swansea.”

The award-winning Ashwoods Hybrid drive technology reduces fuel consumption and CO2 emissions by 15-25%.

The system is entirely self-powered; it stores energy every time the vehicle slows down then transfers it to the wheels via an electric motor.

Ashwoods says that unlike other hybrids or electric vehicles, it never needs plugging into a charging point – and operators don’t have to worry about the battery going flat.

Ashwoods has trained technicians at local Ford dealer CEM Days, which up-fitted its Hybrid Drive technology to standard Ford Transit panel vans and chassis cabs.

Mark Roberts, managing director of Ashwoods Automotive, said: “Swansea is leading the way in the adoption of low carbon commercial vehicles in Wales.

“With 35 Ashwoods Hybrid Transits in its fleet, Swansea will significantly lower greenhouse gas emissions and reduce its fuel consumption.”

Swansea purchased the vehicles through the Department for Transport’s Low Carbon Vehicle Procurement Programme (LCVPP).

This initiative aims to help public sector bodies in England and Wales to procure and assess 500 Ashwoods Hybrid LCVs. The DfT provides a grant of £3,430 per vehicle.

When coupled with the fuel savings the LCVs provide, this means the vehicles will actually reduce Swansea’s fleet costs.

Ashwoods had already supplied more than 130 hybrid LCVs in 2010 and 2011, to a wide range of organisations in England, including the Environment Agency and Coventry Council.

Swansea sought references from Coventry, which reported very good levels of performance from the Ashwoods vehicles in terms of reliability, fuel and emissions savings.

Read the full story Swansea deploys largest hybrid van fleet in Wales at our blog

A system that alerts van drivers and their bosses when they’re driving hybrid  vehicles badly is helping companies cut their fuel bills.British company Ashwoods Automotive developed ‘Lightfoot’ to teach people to  drive hybrid vans more efficiently, using a traffic-light system and verbal  warnings to alert the driver when he or she could improve performance.By tapping into the vehicle’s electronic control system, Lightfoot can advise  the driver how to accelerate or when to change gear but also determine when a  driver is wasting fuel, for example by accelerating unnecessarily fast.

If a driver makes the same error three times, the system can record a penalty  that is included in an email report to the fleet manager every week or month.  This can be used to encourage the driver to compete for the title of best  driver. Ashwoods’ business development manager Martin Kadhim said the company  developed the system so customers using its retrofittable hybrid drivetrain  technology, such as BT and Royal Mail, could improve their fuel efficiency  further.

‘We developed the hybrid to make the vehicle as efficient as possible,’ he  told The Engineer. ‘Now we’ve developed Lightfoot to make the driver as  efficient as possible.’In order to create the hybrid drivetrain system, the company had to develop  computer algorithms that would tell it when to charge the system and when to  release that energy to assist the engine.Lightfoot uses these algorithms and the system that allows the vehicle’s  components to talk to each other (the CAN bus) to determine whether a driver is  driving as efficiently as he or she could.‘The vehicle knows exactly how it should be driven,’ said Kadhim. ‘We take  that information in the form of millions of messages in the vehicle’s CAN bus  system, take what we need and display that to the driver.’Previous telematic systems have focused on improving the safety or efficiency  of drivers’ behaviour using GPS tracking to produce reports. But Kadhim said  Lightfoot was different in that it provided instant feedback and was therefore  more likely to have a lasting impact on driving style.The company intends to adapt the system for fully electric vehicles in order  to help tackle range anxiety — the fear of running out of electricity  mid-journey — and hopes to sell it to individual drivers looking to cut their  fuel bills.

Read more:  http://www.theengineer.co.uk/sectors/automotive/news/hybrid-van-driver-alert-system-helps-companies-cut-fuel-bills/1013380.article#ixzz22OzSE0tV

Read the full story Hybrid van driver alert system helps companies cut fuel bills at our blog